SPPS Strategic Planning Policy Statement Edition 2 (December 2025)·Page 31·5.52
Pre-Determination Hearings
Councils may hold optional pre-determination hearings for certain applications, with a mandatory requirement for prescribed applications including major developments referred to the Department for call-in but returned to council. These allow objectors and applicants to present views before decisions are made.
Councils will have the option of holding pre-determination hearings for certain planning applications on a non-statutory basis. However, there will also be a mandatory requirement to hold a pre-determination hearing for other prescribed applications including those major developments which have been referred to the Department for call-in consideration but which have been returned to a council. This allows both objectors and applicants to air their views prior to a decision being taken.
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